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Cyclo-cross World Cup #10 - CDM

Hoogerheide, Netherlands, January 22, 2006

Vervecken ready for the World's

By Brecht Decaluwé

The last World Cup race before the World Championships has been won by Erwin
Vervecken of the Fidea team. In the Dutch town of in Hoogerheide, he finished
alone ahead of John Gadret (Ag2R) and Enrico Franzoi (Franzoi). Bart Wellens
(Fidea) had a good attacking race and finished fourth.

Talking with Belgian Sporza radio, Vervecken explained how took this
victory. "Immediately, there were 25 men together, so the race was difficult
to control. Bart attacked and I helped him by dropping a small gap. Sven Nys
(Rabobank) and Gadret (AG2R) did not spare their efforts when trying to close
down the gap with Wellens and Simunek (Palmans). Gadret and Franzoi (Lampre)
could follow me when I attacked. On a climbing part of the circuit, I used my
turbo to make the difference. Bart Wellens could help me in the final lap by
letting a gap go in the downhill part.

"This first big victory of the season is in fact quite logical because I am
the number two on the UCI rankings. The last weeks, most of the time, I finished
second, so I knew that my stamina was alright. Next week will be more selective
than today, but in a tactical race I will have my chance. Nys is no longer the
untouchable ride of November when he could win without an effort, but he's still
the best."

The biggest surprise today was the eighth place of Sven Nys, after winning
eight of the nine stages of the World cup. "I was riding a nervous race, with
some serious attacks and some defensive racing in the back of the bunch," he
said. "We made contact with the race leaders in the last lap. But then I had
a flat tyre. If you encounter such problems in the last lap, there is nothing
you can do.

"In a very calm week, with only one race, I gained back my mental freshness.
Next week, I'll race more in the offensive, because I don't want to take any
risks. All Belgians want to become World Champion, so we don't race as a team.
I'll ride for myself, and nobody else."

Bart Wellens was riding in front for most of the race. "In the past two weeks,
I trained a lot. After the Belgian Championships, I wanted to get 10 percent
better for the World's. Today, I only wanted to get a good feeling in the race.
I could ride away on a easy part of the circuit and only Simunek was following.
The young guy did a lot of work, but in the last three laps he was out of gas.
He did a nice race.

"Nys will always remain the top favourite for the World's, but I want to be
his main rival. My team mate Vervecken and also Gadret will make sure it will
be a good race. Next week, I want nothing else than the world title."

How it unfolded

The first three laps, there were no gaps between the top riders, so a bunch
of some 25 riders was riding in front. Bart Wellens and Radomir Simunek decided
to attack and quickly gained an advantage of about half a minute. Nys did not
panic and was riding in 20th position. When the race was halfway, Sven Nys unleashed
his power and suddenly the gap started decreasing fast.

The bunch shrank into a group of seven riders with Nys, Vervecken, Franzoi,
Ausbuher, Gadret, Dlask and Heule. Nys did not continue his efforts and in the
sixth lap, the gap was still 15 seconds.

In front, Simunek was riding very strong and did most of the work. When the
chasing group came close to the front riders, Wellens decided to try solo.

In the last lap, everything came back together, so the fans saw a tense final.
Vervecken accelerated and only Frenchman Gadret and the Italian Franzoi could
follow. A that moment Nys punctured and had to settle for eighth. Vervecken
kept accelerating and didn't let it come to a sprint. With this well earned
victory he took his first World Cup-victory of the season.